Mysterious Malta

Flight UK/Malta transfer to Dolmen hotel in Bugibba, which lies in the North East of the Island.

In the late afternoon there will be an introduction to the mysterious temple culture of Malta and the many enigmas that it has generated. We will then visit the small Bugibba temple in the grounds of our Dolmen hotel.

Day 2 - 21 Sept

In the morning we will visit the capital city of Valletta, named after the famous Grand Master of the Knights of Malta, who successfully repulsed the Turks, against overwhelming odds, during the siege of 1565. It is a city steeped in history and offers a wonderful glimpse back in time. We will visit the informative National Museum of Archaeology, where we will get insights into the temple culture of Malta and then onto the Grandmaster's Palace. The afternoon will be free for shopping or returning back to our hotel.

In the evening there will be an equinox sunset meditation at the Tal Qadi temple site in which was found the famous astronomical slab, now in the Museuem of Archaeology in Valetta.

Day 3 - 22 Sept

On this day we will travel across the sea by ferry to visit the adjoining island of Gozo, which holds the most impressive of all of the Malta temples at Ggantia. The facade stones of this temple are over six metres in height. We will also visit two small sites close by known as the Xaghra circle and the remains of the Santa Verna temple, with its peaceful location. After the temple visit we will travel to the capital city of Gozo Victoria for lunch as having an opportunity to visit the Cathedral. After lunch we will visit the Borg L-Imramma temple near Ta' Cenc before travelling back to the main island of Malta.

Day 4 - 23 Sept

As this is the day of the Autumn Equinox where we will have an early morning visit to the beautiful temple of Mnajdra, which is aligned to the Equinox sunrise. After the sunrise experience we will have breakfast at the restaurant close to the temple. We will then visit the Visitor Centre and the Hagar Qim temple, before returning back to Bugibba.

After our return to the hotel the afternoon will be free for relaxation, with a sunset meditation on the end of the Qawra peninsular.

Day 5 - 24 Sept

This day is free for re-visiting sites or simply relaxing in the hotel and enjoying a massage, or having a spa treatment.

Morning visit to the temples of Skorba and Ta’Hagrat that lie close to each other. These temples date to an early phase in the megalithic culture of Malta being first developed around 4600bce. They display a common feature of the trefoil apses found in many of the temples sites. After lunch we will visit the fortified citadel of Mdina, the old capital of Malta made famous in the siege of 1565 and the grotto of St. Paul. We will return visiting the famous Mosta Dome, the third largest in Europe, of church of the Assumption.

Day 7- 26 Sept

One of the most extraordinary of the Malta temples is the underground temple of Hal Saflieni also known as the Hypogeum, which is hewn out of the solid rock and is created on two underground levels that descends to a depth of some 10 metres. Each level has an extensive number of rooms. This site lay hidden for many years and was not re-discovered again until 1902, when some workmen accidentally broke into one of the chambers. We will then travel on to visit the Tarxien temple, which is one of the best preserved in all of Malta. After the temples we will visit the Ghar Dalam (dark cave) and the Marsaxlokk (fishing village).

Day 8 - 27 Sept

Transfer from Bugibba to Luqa, Malta's international airport and then flight back to London